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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.kojo Mensah" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kojomegh3@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2011 13:57:58 +0100
Subject: REPLY ME

Office of Presidency
Payment Office of Paymaster General
#78 Ridge road accra north
Accra Ghana.
Approval to  your Fund  release
 
Attn:  Beneficiary,
It was resolved after the Board meetings 21nd of February 2011 by the foreign Remittance office to release your outstanding payment of $2.5m USD waiting for transfer as we began this First Quarter payment of the year.You are to reconfirm to us all this information below for your payment.
We sincerely apologies for our late contact with you, We are committed to serve you better.
Reconfirm back to me to avoid any irregularities as your payment is now ready to be release to you Via our  ATM Master Card (Based on the instructions received from the credit department that this fund has been awaiting collection for over 2 years without anybody coming up for the claim).
You have been advised not to respond to any mail or fax concerning your fund from any body who claim to be or you’re agent as your payment is now ready to be transferred immediately my office confirm receipt of the  followings.
Kindly re-confirm to me the followings:
1)Your Full Name__________________________ _____________
2)Your Address_______________________ ______________________________
3)Your Age___________________________ _______________________
4)Your Direct Telephone Number________________________ ________________
5)Fax Number________________________ _________________
6)Occupation____________________ __________________________
You are warned and advised to follow-up instructions as regards to your fund.
The above is your payment (Ref#:000999/bog/7535/2011) Any mail or faxes with out your payment numbers you should disregards immediately for security reasons on this issue.
Dr Kojo Mensah
(Paymaster General)
CC: Kwabena Duffuor
(Minister of Finance)

Anti-fraud resources: